The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-09-22

begged some for PIERRE. The woman
gave them both to drink willingly, and
looked back over her shoulder for long
after she had passed them
The sun was already low when the
travellers enetered the village. But Mere
Goubet did not stop. Pierre's experience
had been one of irregular meals seasoned
with cuffs. but he was now growing more
hungry than seemed reasonable even to
him. He remembered where the bread
had come from that morning.
Is there anything more to eat in your
bundle, ma Mere?" he asked insinuat-
ingly.
"Ah, no." replied Mere Goubet ;
wlshest thou to see what IL there ?'' She
put the bundle on the low wall and opened
it. There were to be seen 3 top, whip,
pair of sabots and some worsted stock
ings-nothiug more. "My boy is lit
tie delicate, you see; he must not go
barefoot like thee" Pierre eyed the top
and whip greedily. Mere Goubet tied up
the bundle. Go, then; they are not
for thee, little one. They belong to my
little son; we will find him, and thou
and he shall play together 80 happily" ;"
"What is your sons name ?" asked
Pierre, who OH account of the toys now
began to realize the existence of this
little boy.
81 His name is Jean he is of thy age,
but he is not at all like thee"
"Where are we going to find him?"
" To the hills yonder," and she pointed
to the distance and relapsed into silence,
from which the voice of Pierre reused
her. I" am hungry, ma Mere.''
"Ah, it is true; forget; but what am
l to do? l have not a sou, and thou has
not dined, poor child"
8 "Are you not, then, hungry also ?"
mo, no; me, eat nothing till find
my little one. Then shall eat" Pierre
was cute in his own way. He perceived
it was necessary he should act for himself.
They had but just left the village. He
proposed they should go back apd ask
for food at the nearest house. Mere
Goubet consented. He ran in front, and
took the business in charge. The first
house was cafe; but fat man in a blue
blouse sent him off with gesture as of
kicking. The woman next door, how
ever, called him back, gave him some hot
coffee and some bread, and, looking out
at the strange woman in the road, said,
"Thy mother, she looks quite fatigued :;
do you think she would like some coffee %
"For her she eats not till she sees her
little boy" replied Pierre, seriously.
What sayest thou i? But that is
folly" and she went out and made Mere
Goubet drink cup of coffee. She shook
her head when she returned.
"There is something wrong thcre,"
said she, "but know not what"
On they tramped. am cold," said
Pierre. Mere Goubet t0ok off her cloak
and wrapped it round him.
"Where shall we sleSH?'' asked Pierre
"See," said Mere 00lhbet, "here is a
haystack Thou shalt creep into little
hole and sleep"
This was done, and Pierre slept till
morning. He was awakened by Mere
Goubet, who was shaking him. She
looked as those do who have had no sleep.
Her eyes were wild and bright, and her
hands burning. Come, if we are to reach
the hills tonight it is necessary that we
start"
That day passed much as the last. A
crockery merchant travelling with a van
gave them half his dinner. He looked at
Mere Goubet sharply, and then turned to
little Pierre and touched his forehead
meaningly; but the boy did not under
stand.
The road now began to ascend. Night
began to fall once more. Pierre's spirit
had been sinking very low. He was worn
out with fatigue and hunger. Mere Gou-
bet seemed to feel neither. She was very
kind to him, but there was a strangeness
that oppressed him; he began to weep.
s.Why weepest thou, my child ?''
"Shall we never find your little boy,
so that we may have food and get
warm?"
"But we 60 to find him certainly.
Did not tell thee that up there, where
the hill touches the heaven, there we shall
find him."
"Why did your little boy 60 away ?"
Glow can l say? 1t was the good
God doubtless that took him. He was my
only son; alb, yes, my only one! had
three, and he was the youngest, and the
others were gone"
"Where did they go;"
"They are dead, and also my husband,
but that is long ago, and they say that
my little Jean is also dead, but that is not
true-I know il"
The road now descended into . ravine.
The night had by degrees lightened mys-
teriously. 1t was the rising of the moon,
which now came forth in solemn beauty
over the hill before them, showing the
masses of wood that clothed its sides and
a chateau which stood on the summit.
Up it's steep ascent they toiled, Pierre's
tired feet tagging behind. He had ceased
crying? the lonely, sbelterless night was
dreadful, for Mere Goubet frightened
him. At last they reached the top. No
more hills. A river lay far down below
them. "This is the top, ma Mere, and
there is here no jean"
Pierre had no longer an expectation of
it, but he wished to say something. for
Mere Goubet was standing still, and her
look was very strange. At that moment,
from the lighted windows of the chateau
near at hand, there broke forth the sound
of young voices singing. Mere Goubet
threw up her arms and cried: "The good
God be praised! It is my Jean I" and
then she staggered and fell to the ground.
Pierre, after q moment's stupe6cation,
knelt at her side and tried to raise her
head. '"Speak to me, then," he cried !:
{" what 10 the matter ?" But there was no
answer. Mere Goubet lay silent and
motionless, +,
He got up and looked round. Where
wes rss heln in that wide. lonely scene